CHRIS BROWN'S RIHANNA PLEA AGREEMENT

Chris Brown

Chris Brown reached a plea agreement today that will spare him any jail time. The singer will be sentenced to five years probation and 180 days of community labor in Virginia. In exchange, he pleaded guilty to felony assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury. "Mr. Brown, I think it's commendable that you took responsibility for your conduct," said Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg. Brown was also ordered to stay at least 50 yards away from pop singer Rihanna, except when at industry events, and then it must be 10 yards, despite a request from Rihanna's lawyer that the former couple be allowed in the same place at the same time. If he violates probation, Brown will face four years in jail. His formal sentencing is set for Aug. 5th, when the court will drop the second charge of making criminal threats. Making a note that Brown pleaded to a felony, Schnegg said, "I want Mr. Brown to be treated the same as any other defendant who would come into this court. That means something like Caltrans [trash pickup] or graffiti removal, and a two-week domestic violence program." Brown had been charged with two felony counts, assault and making criminal threats, in the alleged fight that left Rihanna bruised and bloodied. The plea deal was reached right before Rihanna was to testify under subpoena in a preliminary hearing on the charges. After the judge addressed him, Brown left the courtroom and Rihanna, wearing a black dress and pearls, was brought in for the judge to explain the plea deal terms to the singer. The two were never in the courtroom at the same time. According to the search warrant, Rihanna was assaulted during an argument that began when she read text messages from another woman on Brown's phone as they driving in a Lamborghini in Los Angeles California, the morning before the star couple were scheduled to perform at the famed Grammy Awards ceremony. An enraged Brown allegedly tried to force her out of the car, hit her head against the passenger window, punched in her left eye and drove away while steering with one hand and continuing to punch her with the other, says the detective's notes in the search warrant. As blood filled Rihanna's mouth, Brown allegedly told her, "I'm going to beat the s--- out of you when we get home. You wait and see!" Rihanna called her assistant and left a message saying, "I am on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there." The police notes say that prompted Brown to reply: "You just did the stupidest thing ever. Now I'm really going to kill you."
Photos By: Sara De Boer/Retna